Are you tired of all your serves being returned easily? In a few easy steps, this article will explain the best way to serve a volleyball that scores more points. The article will explain the basic steps for the overhand serve. The overhand method is the most effective and difficult to return. The underhanded serve does not deliver the amount of power we need to devastate the opponent. This method is a little more geared for the intermediate to advanced player and may not be suitable for the beginner.
The only supplies you will need are a regulation volleyball and a beach volleyball court. If you do not have access to a court, you can draw a line on a wall to represent the net and stand thirty feet away. The net height is 7’11 for men and 7’4 for women.
- Foot Placement and starting posture: Stand a few feet behind the serving line with your left foot slightly behind your right (right handed players).
- Ball placement: Hold the ball out in front of you with your left hand (Right handed players) while keeping your left arm straight. Your right hand should be held up next to your head in ready position to strike the ball. This will look similar to pulling back a bow and arrow.
- The toss: Toss the ball with your left hand two to three feet in the air. Caution- Do not let your toss drift too far away from your body. A good toss is key.
- The serve: Take a step forward with your right foot and hit the ball at the top of the toss just before it starts to come down. Make sure to hit the ball with the heel of your palm for more power. Pro tip- Try to hit the top of the ball to create topspin that will make the ball travel in a sinking motion and thus harder to return.
Extra Tips and Cautions
- Try to aim your serve towards the back line to make the return more difficult.
- Aim the serve towards a weaker player on the opposing team.
- Practice using different trajectories to see what works best for you.
- Make sure to ready yourself and get back into position after your serve.
- You can also jump while serving to add more power and get better angles.
If you follow these steps properly and practice you will turn your serves into a weapon that can lead to more points and more victories. Serving is one of the most important parts of the game that most players overlook. Using this guide will put you a step above other players. Comments and suggestions about how to improve this guide are welcomed.
*All photos and videos taken and published by Jeffrey M. Boulden